Grain-separator



No. 626,746. Patented lune I3, |899. C. E. BIRD,

GRAIN ssPAnAo.

(Application ld June 6, 1898.) v (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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TME NORRIS PETERS CD., PHDYO-LITNO.. WASHINGTQN, D. C.

Patented lune I3, |899.

C. E. BIRD.

GRAIN sEPAnATon.

(Application led .Tune 6, 189B.)

-Ulu Model.)

Zz'n ess es No. 626,746. Patented June I3, |899.

' C. E. BIRD.

GRAIN SEPABATOB. (Application led .Tune 6, 1898.1

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(No llodeL) Lr zza riz ey dd 7, A]

THE NORRIS PETERS C0., PNQTO-UTHO., WASNINGTGN, D. C.

wai-nenas ff/fim- UNITED [STATES PATENT Fries.

CHARLES E. BIRD, OF MINNEAPOLIS, HINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO JULIUS ROSHOLT, OF lWIAYVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA'.

G RAIN-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,746, dated June 13, 1899. Applica-tion filed June 6, 1898. Serial No. 682,656. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ wwnt t ntctg/ concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES E. BIRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Separators and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art t0 which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to grain-separators of the type in which vibrating series are em-v ployed; and it has for its object to improve the construction of such machines in points hereinafter noted.

The invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings,wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a right-side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken centrally through the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of one of the sieves. Fig. 4: is abottom plan view of the adjustable bottom section of the hopper, which in this construction serves the function of a feed-gate; and Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the upper or primary vibratin g shoe removed from the machine and provided with sieves which vary in construc-l tion and arrangement from those shown in Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to Ll, inclusive, ci indicates the side brackets, and ct' the transverse timbers, of the framework of the machine. Rigidly secured to the upper ends of vertical beams of the side frames or brackets CL is a hopper b. This hopper b is provided with an adjustable bottom section b', which constitutes or serves as the feed-gate and, as shown, works in grooves b2, cut in the sides of said hopper. The adjustment of this gate or bottom section b is accomplished by means of a pair of small levers b3, that are pivoted to the said section b at b4 and the outer ends of which work in recesses or notches of fulcrumblocks b5, rigidly secured one to each side of the hopper below said section b. The

free ends of these levers b3 terminate in close proximitjT to each other, so that they may be readily engaged with one hand and simultaneously operated, and thereby cause equal movements of both ends or sides of the gatesection b.

Directly below the hopper just described is mounted the primary and uppermost vibrating sieve-shoe '0, composed principally of side plates, a transversely-extended trough c', and suitable transverse connections. At its forward end the shoe c is suspended by short links c2, the upper ends of which are, as shown, pivoted to the sides of the hopper b and the lower ends of which are likewise pivoted to the sides of said shoe. The lower ends of said links c2 may, however, be adjustably secured in any one of a series of holes c3 by removing the bolt or pin which secures the same, so as to vary the rise and fall of that end of the shoe. Rigidly secured to a cross rod or beam c4 of the shoe c is an inclined deiiectorplate c5, which cooperates with-the opening in the bottom of the hopper in the feed action. Below the detlector-plate c5 is an inclined and imperforate feed board or deck c6, rigidly secured to transverse bars c7 and o8 of the shoe c. Immediately over the deck'c6 is a screen 1, which, as shown, is removably held in place by a spring o9.

c10 indicates a flexible sheet or flap which overlies the screen 1 and is secured at its upper end to the cross-bar c4. The shoe c also carries a pair of approximately parallel screens 2 and 3, that are suitably supported thereby and slant reversely from the sieve 1.

c11 indicates a eXible sheet or iiap which overlies the sieve 2 and is secured at its upper end to the transverse bar c7.

c12 indicates the inclined deck, which is carried by the shoe c and underlies the sieve 3. The shoe c also carries a pair of small transversely-extended and reversely-acting detlectors c13 and 014, the particular relation and action of which will be hereinafter noted.

Below the primary sieve-shoe c the secondary sieve-shoe is mounted to vibrate. This secondary shoe f is much longer than the primary shoe c and projects farther toward the rear of the machine. This shoe f is made up principally of side pieces connected at their' IOO ends by transverse troughs or spouts ff2f3 f4 and longitudinally-extended but reverselyinclined discharge-spouts f5 f6. The said side plates of the shoe f are shown as further connected at their intermediate portions by a pair of parallel transversely-emended anglebars orsieve-supports f7 andfs. Imperforate inclined decks ff and]010 extend, respectively, from the sieve-supports f7f8 to the longitudinally-extended discharge-sponts f5 f6. Extending substantially parallel to the deck ff and immediately over the same is a pair of sieves or screens et 5, that lead, respectively, to the troughs f f2 and are supported at their upper ends by the transverse sieve-supportf.-

f indicates the flexible sheet or fla-p which rests upon the sieve 4 and is secured at its upper end to a transverse bar fm.

Extending substantially parallel to each other and to the deck 10 is a pair of sieves or screens 7 and 8, thatlead, respectively, to the transverse spouts or troughsfsfl and are snpported at their upper ends by the transverse sieve-support fs. The sieves 7 and S are, for a purpose hereinafter to be specifically noted, placed very close together. To secure the best results, they should be located approximately one-half inch apart.

The opening between the transverse sievesupports]L17 f8 is spanned by a screen 6 of such fine mesh. that no ordinary material or grain canpass therethrough, but serving to freely pass air from a fan located below the same and to be presently described. Secured to the sides of the secondary shoe f and extending above the sieves 7 and S transversely of the machine is a discharge-spout'f, that is open at its forward edge. The deflector c projects into this spout fla and, together with the vdeliector cl3, serves to deflect or guide certain of the particles of the grain or stock into said spout fw. Immediately below the deflector C14 is a-pivoted segmental deflector or throat-controlling gate f, the pivot-shaft of which is mounted in the sides of the shoe f and provided at one projectingT end. with a spring-arm f 15, that cooperates with a latchsegment ,fm on one of the sides of said shoef. v The rear ends of the side plates of the shoe fare provided with smallwheels or antifriction-rollers ff', that work on the upper face of a transversely-extended su pport f 13. This support]18 extends between the frame-brackets Ct and is adapted for pivotal adjustment on a longitudinal axis around a clamping-rod fw. By tightening the bolt f19 the supportf1S may besecurely clamped and held in any set position, and by increasing the incline of the upper face of said support fs the amount of rise and fall or vertical movement which that end of the secondary shoe will receive when vibrated, as presently described, may be increased at will.

The forward ends of the primary shoe c and secondary shoe f are supported by a pair of vibrating levers g, pivoted to the said shoes by means of brackets g and g2, respectively.

Intermediate of -the brackets g"` g2 the levers Yg are provided with offset lugs or projections g3, which are pivoted to ful'crum brackets or blocks g4, fixed on transverse portions aE of the main frame of the machine. This offset fulcrum will give an increased vertical movement to the forward ends of the shoe under the vibrating actions of the levers.

The fan, which, as heretofore indicated, is located below the very fine sieve 6, maybe of any approved form; but as preferred it consists of the fan-case 7a, the neck 7s of which is positioned to discharge directly through the line sieve G, and the fan-blades 7a2, carried by the shaft 7c3 and operating in the ordinary manner. The throat or passage through the neck 7s is adapted to be opened and closed to a greater or less extent bymeans ofa gatevalve 7a4, the shaft of which projects through one side of the fan-case 7c and is provided with a spring-arm 7.65, that cooperates with a latch-segment 71:6 to hold said valve L4 wherever set.

The fan-shaft 7a3 projects and is provided at its ends with cranks 71:7, which are connected to the depending ends of the supporting-levers g by means of pitmen n. These pitmen n are connected to the depending ends of said levers by the bolts or pins 07,',which are adapted to 'be inserted into any of the series of holes n2 insaid levers to thereby vary the strokes which said levers, and consequently said sieve -shoes, will be given under the crank motions of the cranks 757. One projecting crank end of the shaft 7t3is` also provided with a small sprocket-wheel p. A relatively very large sprocket-wheel p is mounted on astud p2, secured to and projecting from one side of the main frame ct. A sprocket-chain p3 runs over the sprocket-wheels p and p. The sprocket-wheel p is provided with a hand-crank p4, which adapts the machine to be run by hand. If desired to run the machine by power, either the sprocket-wheelp or fan-shaft 7a3 might be provided with a pulley, or other suitable driving connections might be provided.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, with the following exceptions: Sieves 9 and l0 are substituted for sieve l of the above-described construction, and sieves 1l, 12,13, and 14 are substituted for sieves 2 and 3. It will be noted that the sieves 0 and l() are placed in staggered relation with respect to each other, and likewise that sieves ll and 12 and 13 and la are staggered or offset with respect to each other or set in different vertical planes.

To better illustratethe relation which the various sieves sc far described bear to each other, the following dimensions of the meshes of the same are given; but it will of course be understood that these dimensions may be varied. As preliminary to this it may, however, be timely stated that the arrangement provided for in the machine illustrated in Figsl to 4,inclusive,is especially adapted and IOO I'IO

or less chaff and dirt.

designed forthe separation of rice from the foreign matter or refuse with which it is usually mixed: Sieve 1 has one-fourth inch rou nd per-` the other direction.

The arrangement of sieves illustrated in Fig. 5 is especially adapted for the separation of wheat and oats. This mixture is grown in large quantities in many localities where the conditions of the soil demand such a mixture and is commonly designated as succotaslr The sieve-section 9 has thirteen sixty-fourths inch round perforations, the sieve-section 10 has twelve sixty-fourths round perforations, the section 1l has twelve sixty-fourths round perforations, section 12 has seven sixtyfourths round perforations, section 13 has twelve sixty-fourths round perforations, and section 14 has sixvsixty-fourths round perforations. However, as previously stated, these exact dimensions are simply given to illustrate the relation of the sieves, and hence I do not limit myself to such dimensions.

As shown, iiexible flaps or sheets 015, o16, c, and 018 work over the tops of the sieve-sections 9, 10, 11, and 12, respectively. The lower end of the sieve-section 12 cooperates with the extended imperforate section c, which when said shoe is placed in working position or substituted for the shoe c, employed in Fig. 2, overlaps the deflector or imperforate deiiector fm.

Operation: The operation of the construction illustrated in` Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, will be substantially as follows: Asis well kn own, rice is usually mixed with a growth known as tadpole,7 with various foul seeds, and more Tadpole is a peculiar seed consisting of a pod with a short stem, making the seed usually from fiVe-eighths to three-fourths of an inch long. On account of its peculiar form it is very difiicult to remove the tadpole from the rice. Vith these statements in mind the operation will be better understood. The rice and foreign mixtures are placed in the hopper b and fed through the opening b2, which opening may be varied, as previously described. Vhen the shoe c is at rest, the flow of a small amount of grain will clog the passage h2 and stop the iiow for the time being; but when the shoe is vibrated the deiiector-plate c5, vibrating back and forth, will pass through the stream of grain which is attempting to flow through the passage b2 and will cause a forced feed of the grain onto the sieve or screen 1. All of the stock or material will pass through the coarse sieve 1, except chatf, straw, or other large material,

which will be discharged into the transverse trough c' and from thence to any suitable point of discharge. The material which passes the sieve 1 will he directed bythe deck c6 onto the sieve 2. All of the stock except No. 1 rice and the tad poles will pass through both sieves 2 and 3 and will be directed onto the sieve 4 by the deck cl2. More or less of the No. 1 rice may pass through the sieve 2, but will not pass through the sieve 3, and hence this No. l rice, mixed with tadpoles, will be passed over the fine sieve 6. In passing over this sieve 6 the rice and tadpoles willv be passed through the blast from the fan 7a2, and the tad poles being much lighter than the rice more or less of the same will be blown into the spout fm, while the rice and the remainder of the tadpoles, with whichit is mixed, will pass onto the sieve 7. Now the head of the tadpole will pass through a perforation of such diameter that it will not pass either No. 1 or No. 2 rice. The perforations in the sieves 7 are of such diameter that they will not pass No. 1 rice, but will pass No. 2 rice and the tadpoles. No. l rice will thus be discharged into the transverse trough f 5. The elongated meshes of the sieve S are so narrow that they will not pass the No. 2 rice, but will pass the tad pole's. Hence the No. 2 rice will be discharged into the transverse trough f4, while the remainder of the tadpoles will be discharged through the spout f6.'

As the sieves 7 and 8 are located a less distance apart than the lengthof a tadpole, itis evident that the tadpoles will be presented endwise to the sieve S, thus making their passage through the meshes of said sieve 8 much more certain than if presented in any other way. This relative arrangement of the sieves is very important. 1

We have now followed out the successive steps by which the tadpoles are separatedfrom the No. 1 and No. 2 rice. By opening or closing the gate-valve 104 of the fan the intensity of the blast of air on the material passing over the sieve 6 may be regulated so as lto give the best results under different conditions. By adjusting the segmental deflector f 14 the throat-opening to the spout f13 may be varied. Any rice which might possibly be blown slightly above this sieve 6 would on account of its weight in excess of the tadpoles fall upon the deliector f14 and be thereby caused to roll back onto said sieve 6. By the proper manipulation of the valve 7a4 and deflector f14 it is possible to remove all light dirt and dust and a greatmany of the tadpoles from the rice in its passage over the sieve` 6 without causing a waste of the good rice.

It will be remembered that only the rice and tadpoles, together with some dirt or dust and possibly some light chad, were delivered to the sieve 6. Such substances as hulled rice, broken rice, red rice, and small foul seeds were passed through the sieve 3 and delivered onto the sieve 4. This sieve 4 will pass the broken rice and small round seeds,

IZO

but will deliver the hulled rice and red rice (which latter is smaller than the white rice) to the transverse spout f'. The sieve 5 will deliver the broken rice into the transverse spoutf, but-will pass the small foul seeds or other small material, which material will be discharged from the spout f5. The iiexible flaps 4or sheets cl, c, and f, for example, operate in the ordinary manner to hold the grain iat and prevent it from jumping too high on the sieves with which they cooperate..y However, in the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 the iiexible aps 015 and 018 serve additional functionsto wit, that of imperforate conveyors for delivering the material not passed through the sieves 9 and 11, vrespectively, over and above the sieves 10 and l2, respectively. This latter arrangement is thought to be novel. Attention is now particularly called to the fact ythat the prim ary sieve 1,*whioh is of very coarse mesh, serves to separate and carry off all of the coarse chailc before the stock is passed through the blast of the fan. This greatly reduces the amount of work which would otherwise be thrown upon vthe blast.

When the construction or arrangement of sieves illustrated in Fig. 5 is substituted in the shoe c and the machine is used to separate-wheat andoats, I would preferably also substitute for Lthe sieve 7 a sieve of the same construction as sieve 8, (see Fig. 3,) but of slightly-coarser mesh, so that it would pass oats, but not wheat. It will of course be understood. that I do not limitmyself to the specific details of construction above set forth, but, on the contrary, that my invention is capable ot' alterations other than those noted.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a grain-separator, the combination with a shaking shoe, of a pair of overlapping sieves ot unequal length, and a flexible iap mounted to serve as a tailings extension for the upper or shorter sieve, and as a rider for the lower sieve, substantially as and for the purposes set. forth.

2. In a grain-separator, the combination with an upper shaking shoe chaving separating-sieves, of a lower shoe f having separating-sieves, the intermediate sieve 6 receiving the overtail from the upper and delivering the` same to the lower separating-sieves, a blast-fan having its delivery-spout it directly under said sieve 6, a regulating-valve R4 in said blast-spout, the discharge-spout fis receiving the material blown from the sieve 6 and the regulating-valve f14 in said discharge-spout, all for cooperation substantially as described.

3. In a feed-hopper, the combination with the xed sides b of the endwise-movable bottom ZJ', and the levers b3 pivoted to said bottom intermediate of their extremities, as at b4, and having their outer ends fulcrumed to fixed parts of the hopper with their free ends extending near to each other for joint operation with one hand, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature infpresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES BIRD.

lVitnesses:

.LILLIAN C. ELMORE,

F. D. MERCHANT. 

